In both instances, police were called in by the council to free the dogs but the owners arrived back just in time to unlock their vehicles .Owners of both dogs were cautioned by SDC Animal Wardens.

In both cases, the thermometers were put through windows which had been left slightly open.

“The Spitz was in a car where the temperature was 27.5 degrees in the shade and 32.5 degrees in the sun,” said Ms Myrie.

“The dog had a car harness on and although the owner had parked in the shade, the angle of the sun had changed and the car had heated up. The ticket in the car was for three hours of parking.

The dog in the Merrywalks multi-storey car park had been inside the car since 9.15am and the temperature had risen to 20.1 degrees by 10.15am.

Ms Myrie was concerned for the dog’s welfare by 10am.

“It was panting very heavily and when the owner came back, we gave it a big drink of water,” said Alex.

“People think it’s not going to happen to them.

“And when it does happen, they say they were longer than they thought, or they’d taken them for a walk before they went shopping – actually after a walk, a dog will usually be hotter too.”

She warned that anyone who leaves a dog in a hot car is very likely to be issued with an on-the-spot improvement notice under Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, for failing to provide an animal with a suitable environment and to protect it from pain, injury, suffering or distress.

That will be entered on an owner’s record and if they do it again, is very likely to lead to a prosecution in court.

In previous animal welfare roles, Ms Myrie has attended scenes where dogs have died because they were trapped inside a hot car.